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Thai Cottage Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
4041 Judah St(between 45th Ave & 46th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94122
Neighborhood: Outer Sunset
(415) 566-5311
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 3 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
85 reviews for Thai Cottage Restaurant
Review Highlights
"I had a craving for pumpkin curry."
(in 13 reviews)
"The brown rice was the perfect texture."
(in 6 reviews)
"went tremendously well with the coconut ice-cream."
(in 2 reviews)
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85 reviews in English
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Review from barabara b.
San Francisco, CA
10/19/2011
my freind John said this place was great, so the five of us including john went in. John said if Natasha likes it it has to be great and beautiful, since she is beautiful.
The food was amazing. we had all of the three soups plus the rice!
p.s. John was great hoping to see natatsha but no..but he had a great meal and another recommendation.
It is a little small but a cozy atomsphere, nice music too -
Review from Donny D.
El Segundo, CA
12/20/2011 1 photo
Last month was my very first trip to San Fran. My girlfriend and I were at a hotel around the corner and walked in the immediate area for a place to eat. We were surprised to find this little gem tucked away between some other businesses; it was a tight fit for the restaurant. It was a cool, candle-lit, chill atmosphere. Our waitress greeted us right away. I've heard that everything is more expensive in San Fran, but the menu wasn't over-priced. We started with the tom yum noodle soup, actually we split the dish; it was a great appetizer. Our main courses were really good, also the Thai iced tea.
The dining area is really narrow because the restaurant is kind of small, but it wasn't jam packed, so it worked out just right. I'm a fan and would definitely go back. Good service, good food, decent prices, great night-time atmosphere. -
Review from exem c.
Los Angeles, CA
12/1/2011
Portions are too small.
Flavor was, meh.
The place is cute and good for a quiet night. We saw a few people come get take out. Waitress was very sweet. The food was not impressive. We ordered 7 dishes, and they tasted okay. Just don't think you're getting good value, nor are your taste buds dancing. Perhaps, I expected too much from all it's awesome reviews. -
Review from Julia N.
2/2/2012
We came here because Outerlands was closed and I am very glad we did! This place is little and cozy and the waitress is one of those happy people you can't help but smile right back at. Basil tofu had just the right amount of heat, everything tasted real fresh, and the portions were filling but not stuffing. My only complaint is that they ran out of coconut creme brulee before we could order one.
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Review from Briar S.
Cottonwood, CA
1/6/2012
Very good food, nice atmosphere, and great service! What more could you ask for?
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Review from jim r.
Chicago, IL
12/31/2011 1 photo
YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY :) Food was amazing! Easy parking, friendly location, nice little fireplace. Prices are so good and portions are perfect... YUM YUM YUM
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Review from Larry S.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
The Cottage is an excellent choice for Thai food. Great variety on the menu. Chef Sabrina chats with patrons and staff members offer sage advice on food and drinks.
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Review from Diane S.
San Francisco, CA
1/28/2012
The night we moved into our house in Outer Sunset we looked for a restaurant open late after we got our boxes in the house. It was 9:50 when we found Thai Cottage open, and went in. After explaining our situation, Sabrina, the proprietor, said that even though she had closed the kitchen, she would never send away hungry people, and prepared us wonderful noodles and soup to take home. We have gone to eat there many times since and have eaten many of the menu items. Every one has been a winner (Tiger Cried salad!). The restaurant is small, well-decorated with a cheerful electric fire on cold nights. Sabrina recently hired a very nice server who knows the menu, We had two apps, 1 soup, 2 beers, 4 mains and 2 desserts for 4 people most recently, and the most expensive item was $8.00. The total bill was $60.00. And the food was, as usual, exquisite. The dessert we wanted was not on the menu, it was something we asked for, and it came beautifully garnished with fresh herbs and a strawberry coulis.
Thai Cottage is aptly named, because it's a cozy place with a warm and accommodating proprietor who works hard to make one feel welcome and well-fed. We urge you to give it a try. -
Review from Aneliese R.
Santa Rosa, CA
9/8/2011
I came here last night and all I can say was that it was fantastic! The flavors were so fresh and not masked by salt or oil. The pineapple duck curry was perfect and I am picky about curry. The waitress Sabrina was so sweet and she made my night all the better. We ordered the duck curry and just asked to substitute the duck for chicken and Sabrina was more than willing to cater to our every need. Ask for the brown rice it is so good and much healthier than white rice.
I will be going to this place many many many times. I will also recommend it to all my SF friends!
Thank you Sabrina for being such a great waitress! You made me happy -
Review from B G.
San Francisco, CA
10/22/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Alright folks, listen up. This thai place is right down the street from my house and I am obsessed. Not only is it quaint and extremely mellow, but the food is absolutely delicious. I'm a vegetarian, so I love when I have options that don't make things confusing. The ingredients seem 100% fresh and local and I always leave satisfied. So when outerlands has an hour wait, go a few doors over for a nice little meal!
What I reccommend:
Tofu appetizer
Green curry with tofu
Pad thai with tofu
Spicy vegetable pad see yew (sp?)
GO! -
Review from Aimee W.
San Francisco, CA
12/6/2011
Right around the corner and a little diamond in the rough!
Their duck noodle soup is just the thing on a cold, foggy night! I've been here several times, both with a large group and as a couple and have ordered takeaway and have never been disappointed.
Service is always warm and friendly, with a menu that has great variety but doesn't take 20 minutes to read and understand. The food always seems lovely and fresh and they are great at tailoring some of the hot dishes if you can't handle the spice! -
Review from Cristal G.
San Diego, CA
8/2/2011
I've only had their pad thai, but it's pretty damn good. Ugh, I know it's awful to give a review based on one dish, but I'm freakin' doing it. I'm glad my mom and pop only live a block away from here. Beats the hell out of Marnee Thai (which is overrated by the way) for sure. Plus, it's hard to find many restaurants in the Outer Sunset near the beach, especially GOOD restaurants.
I know the location isn't the best for business, but I really hope Thai Cottage is here to stay. =) -
Review from Jessica H.
San Francisco, CA
7/4/2011
So we were going to try Sri Thai after a day of fun in the sun, but Sri Thai was closed, which brought us to this place, Thai Cottage.
The place is definitely small, and definitely quiet. Not at all equipped for big groups, so when our group of 7 walked in, I felt we were a bit outta place. But not bad for a early sunday lunch, or maybe a first date.
Anyways, service was a bit slow since there's only one person working on the outside. But she was chill and nice. The dishes came out one by one, rather than all-together at once. I ordered the Tom Kha soup, which is not bad. A bit tangy, would order it again. D ordered a peanutty dish and a Thai coffee. The dish was okay, the coffee was a bit strong, but then again, not really that big a fan of coffee to begin with.
One thing that bothered me was the difference in the portions. One friend got almost all rice, while two dishes, almost the same, had completely different portions. Then again, this might have been because of the friend with the larger portion got tofu, while the other got a meat.
Prices are definitely reasonable. No more than 10 for any one dish. Overall, I approve. -
Review from Geri W.
Mountain View, CA
1/1/2012
Flavorful, excellent food :)
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Review from Cathy K.
4/4/2011
Thai Cottage is another gem in the Outer Sunset.
Easily missed by its unassuming exterior, I'm glad I finally tried it. Walking in I was met with tranquility (+ a touch of tune) and a friendly smile.
I had a craving for pumpkin curry. It's rich flavors and spice packed a nice, flavorful punch over brown rice.
I really enjoyed my meal, especially on the dark and stormy night I was there. I look forward to trying other dishes. -
Review from Michelle H.
San Francisco, CA
9/10/2011
I WOULD GIVE THIS PLACE 0 STARS IF I COULD!!!
Why? THEY TRIED TO STEAL MONEY FROM ME! (read on)
I ordered 2 items To Go, the Pra-ram and the Pad-Thai, which totaled $15.08 (I paid by debit card, wrote and signed for $15.08). After a few days, I checked my bank account and noticed the Thai Cottage charge had cleared for $21.08! yes...they took it upon themselves to STEAL $6 TIP FOR A TO GO ORDER!!! I did not sign for, nor approve any such tip. I knew something was fishy when the waitress didn't give me my "customer copy" of the receipt after I had signed theirs. TOO BAD for them I immediately wrote down on a piece of paper how much I had actually approved just in case I had to reference it later. I can't believe they had the nerve to tip themselves $6 on a To Go order of 2 items. I might not have noticed it if it was reasonable like say $2. I immediately filed a claim with my bank and am being given an instant credit of $6. Needless to say, I won't be back and I'm WARNING all my fellow yelp users to BEWARE of Thai Cottage!
Oh and PS...The food was mediocre at best. I've had better Thai food for cheaper...Definitely not good enough to warrant the outright thievery they TRIED to get away with. (And yes it is only $6, but it's the principle of the matter) -
Review from dana s.
San Francisco, CA
2/15/2011
Get thee to the avenues. What an unexpected treat. We intended to hit the Outlanders (closed) and stumbled into the thai cottage. Everything we had off the menu was deeeelicious and the sweet young man who served us was jus delightful. The cottage is pretty new and i really want to impress the freshness and flavors just burstin out of every dish.
Can't wait to enjoy their traditional dishes again and again.
small quaint and parking was good for our mid week lunch.
Thanks Thai Cottage. -
Review from jennifer t.
San Francisco, CA
6/5/2011
Delicious, delicious, delicious!
The restaurant is nestled on semi-busy stretch of Judah St. in the Outer Sunset District. Easy to bypass but once you discover the mouth-watering gem that is the Thai Cottage cuisine - my son & I were left with a happy, satisfied foodie appetite!
The owners are a wonderful, very warm couple who take great pride in customer service and unforgettable tasting food. -
Review from Eliza D.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 9/6/2011
came back the next evening for dinner with my roommate, who was all yummed out by the pad thai i brought home for him.
had the duck pineapple curry again, delishness was most present. went really well with rice, not a drop of gravy was left to waste.
spring rolls for starters; non-greasy, dainty morsels. fried fresh, vegetable stuffing had a good crunch to it. whets the appetite for sure.
tom yum with prawns; loved that this soup was not chock full of items; a lot of mushrooms, some slices of tomatoes, onion slices, and prawns, alongside the ginger slices and lemongrass, etc. heat was definitely there, but it did not overwhelm, and had a good sour tang. overall clean, wonderful flavors. much like the tom yum i've had at no-frills thai restaurants run by thai families back home in malaysia.
spicy eggplant tofu...ZOMG. SHO YUMMYYY. just so delicious, i think it was cooked in a (black?) bean paste/sauce. eggplant was cooked perfectly. i salivate now thinking of it. the roommate hearts the fried tofu, and so did i. MMMMM. however, not spicy in the least. but still so amazing.
was eager to noms on the coconut creme brulee, but they ran out of it and also the sticky rice with mango dessert. we went for the remaining dessert, fried banana with ice cream. so good! the banana slices were fried expertly in the tempura-like batter, in little ball shapes. not excessively greasy, came out piping hot. went tremendously well with the coconut ice-cream....the hot-cold experience and mix of flavors were perfect.
must make more trips here for foodz and coconut creme brulee!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/4/2011
so yummy!
came in today for the first time with my girl L because we were both hankering for some… Read more »
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Review from Robin d.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2011
Great Papaya Salad and Pa-Nang Curry. We loved it! Great value. Everything came out on time and deliciously hand-prepared. We came hungry and left totally satisfied - not stuffed. We're totally looking forward to going back!
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Review from William H.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2011
Get the Chicken Satay Appetizer. Chicken is perfectly seasoned and grilled, the sauce is nutty and complex, and the cucumber mini-salad will leave you wishing there were more. I had to discreetly sip the tiny bowl that housed the vinegar style dressing, so as not to waste a drop.
This is a quiet, hole-in-the-wall restaurant, so don't expect a bustling atmosphere. Perfect for a date or a chill Sunday night with friends. Sabrina will treat you as if you were her closest relative, and your taste buds are in for a rousing experience. -
Review from Kristin M.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service is very attentive and friendly.
One of the better Thai restaurants I've been to in San Francisco. Definitely on the gourmet side. Had tofu with flat noodles and veggies in a spicy basil sauce. The sauce was spicy and nice, the noodles delicious with the veg. Wish there was more tofu though. Husband had his usual green curry, I thought it was delicious - creamy, coconutty, nicely spiced. Great prices too. Will return! -
Review from Char Z.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Papaya salad was fresh and well dressed. Spring rolls were crispy and tasty. Pumpkin curry had a nice heat to it but wasn't overwhelming. It had a nice, sweet finish, and was rich in mixed veggies and tofu. The brown rice was the perfect texture. The pineapple rice was moist and flavorful with abundant white-meat chicken and pineapple.
Excellent prices, attentive staff, quiet and out-of-the way. Next door to great coffee, and across from slurpee heaven.
Learned that the owner changed around Oct 2010, and the menu is different, but great. Older reviews not a good reflection of current situation. -
Review from Debi C.
San Francisco, CA
5/18/2011
One of the best Thai cafes I have been to. Everything seasoned perfect- not too hot but a lot of yummy garlic. It has character as well as the staff are all smiles and serve with style for such a small unassumaing cafe. Must go to if you like crisp veggies cooked perfect in garlic.
This will be a regular place for me to visit for now on. -
Review from Sharon L.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2011
Sabrina: Sweetest lady who owns the restaurant ever! She was so kind to us especially since my friend knew her personally.
Small place but the atmosphere was relaxing. Small candle in the middle with soft music.
Food was fantastic. I'm not a big curry fan but I tasted the red?? curry my friend ordered with rice. AMAZING.I had some kind of noddle with chicken in it. The best noodles i ever had. Wasn't oily or greasy. Thai tea was delish! Not too sweet and had enough taste to it.
Most definitely coming back! -
Review from Susan Y.
San Francisco, CA
8/15/2011 2 photos
Came here on a Saturday around 1:30p... The restaurant was empty when my group and I walked in, but it quickly gained some other customers within ten minutes of us sitting down.. Haha, that kind of scared me at the beginning. Anyway.
Ordered their Pad Thai with vegetables and tofu. Thai Iced Coffee. I gotta say, I was impressed by the Pad Thai. It's definitely really tasty and very nicely presented to you. You have the noodles & veggies on one side. The bean sprouts on another. And since the plate is split into thirds, you have the peanuts and spices (crushed pepper, etc) on another part of the plate. It's different since you can control how much peanut and spiciness you want, if anything. Usually whenever I order Pad Thai, 99% of the time everything is already mixed in. It was cool. I was amused. lol.
The Thai Iced Coffee was a nice treat. They definitely fill the mug up with the drink. (:
I've only had one entree from here so I can't really judge their other entrees, but everyone else who ordered was quite satisfied. I'd say the only downside to this place is that it's pretty cozy and I can get kind of claustrophobic sometimes.. -
Review from Sunny X.
San Francisco, CA
1/24/2011
My friend and I found this place on Yelp last minute and decided to try it. I know this area is sort of secluded compared to inner Sunset, so I wasn't surprised to be one of the two tables eating on a Monday night. The atmosphere feels much better than what you get at King of Thai or Chabaa; Thai Cottage had tealight candles and dim lighting and was more calming.
We were greeted by a very nice and attentive lady. We had the Angel Wings which were $5.95 and most of the other appetizers were the same price, which was nice. The wings tasted good, but the size of the wings might be small to some. I ordered the Duck Pineapple curry ($8.95) myself, which I loved! There were more duck than what I've expected as well as the veggies. Rice comes separately but for $1.75, you get a portion that is almost 2-persons worth. The curry was also good enough to share with 2 people if you want to try out other dishes. My friend ordered this Pink Noodle Soup which she likes as well.
Altogether, I really enjoyed this place because it felt comfy and the food tastes much better than what I've had before. The flavors weren't bland and the portions were good.
Definitely come back again! -
Review from Vladimir P.
San Francisco, CA
6/23/2011
Nice little place with good and inexpensive food. I will come back.
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Review from Vanessa K.
San Francisco, CA
6/4/2010
Hands down, this is the best place in the city to get Thai. Go for the happy meal: get the yellow pumpkin curry, pad eggplant, and pad thai. The flavors are rich and well balanced.
Yes, this place is small, but "whole in the wall" doesn't quite capture the ambiance. Everything is immaculately clean, which is something I really appreciate. The staff is always super friendly as well.
Some people have criticized that this place is always empty (implying that no one goes here). And it is empty, but only because everyone orders takeout. At any given time there's a queue of brown bags just waiting to be picked up. -
Review from Shauna L.
San Francisco, CA
8/6/2011
Big fan of the Pad Thai here. I used to get my noodles at King of Thai noodle, but Thai Cottage always seems fresher and they even cost a bit less. I love their soups too! I had to try the pumpkin curry recently at my friends urging and I was pleasantly surprised. Very friendly staff as well.
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Review from Madison M.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2011
The BEST Thai restaurant I have ever been to. Do not be fooled by the exterior! Once you step inside, the restaurant is nice and quaint, and the service is always excellent. We have had the same waitress every time, and she is super sweet and helpful. The curries are heavenly! And the chicken satay is delicious...and its very affordable too!
Listed in: Good times in the "Outerlands"
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Review from Marsha Z.
San Francisco, CA
With less than five reviews, I thought I had discovered a new restaurant--a Thai one, at that...
Not so. Thai Cottage has been around for four years. Business seems to be going strong, even with a lack of promotion and the fact that not many people want to leave civilization to trek all the way to the Outer Sunset.
The inside room temperature is warmer than usual. What would normally make for uncomfortable dining, is actually a welcome respite from the cold and fog that lurks outside. At a maximum seating capacity of 18, it's a small restaurant. Take a minute or two to peek at their carefully designed website; it's not only useful for their menu, but also very informative on Thai cuisine.
Since Thai is few and far between in this area, this place is excellent for those in the neighborhood. While the food is above average, I wouldn't recommend a pilgrimage here unless you take advantage of their gluten dishes. Their veggie selection is plentiful. Move over, Mekong; the veggie satay here is worth the five stars, alone. -
Review from Hayley W.
1/10/2010
*crickets*
Usually I am wary walking into an empty restaurant, but I was so hungry the singing crickets did not make me hesitate.
The veggie spring rolls are something to miss. They were dry and bland and the dipping sauce was reminicent of orange marmalade.
*crickets*
The veggie pumpkin curry on the other hand was delicious. Green beans, buttery zucchini, firm broccoli, peppers and chunks of pumpkin in a savory/sweet curry sated my voracious appetite.
The pan fried eggplant was also super tasty. It was the perfect consistancy, which is difficult with eggplant. It was a bit oilier than I prefer, but it was still inhaled by Jess and I in 10 minutes.
*crickets*
We took our full bellies home and left the crickets for the next patron. -
Review from Jade M.
San Francisco, CA
2/4/2009
I was on the N Judah and the bf picked me up at the end of the line...we were hungry and didn't know what we were craving.
We saw Thai Cottage and thought...what the heck..thai sounds good right now..
The place is tiny...like maybe 8 tables tiny...there was only 1 other couple inside but the menu looked pretty good so we gave it a try.
We started off with:
Pla Goong - which was a basically a salad tossed w/ prawns, lemongrass, onions & mint leaves in a chili lime dressing...we both agreed the sauce was very flavorful and tangy...
Po Piah Goong - pretty much a springroll but very tasty
I ordered the Gai Yang - grilled chicken...normally this can be hit or miss as I've had really good grilled thai chicken that was moist and flavorful and I've had thai grilled chicken that was dry and full of bones, but the grilled chicken here was cooked perfectly and presented nicely..very good!
The bf got the Yellow Curry Lamb...it was delicious...the taste reminded me of the beef rendang at Lime Tree...so that was a plus!
Service was friendly and fast, I would definitely come back here to satisfy my thai food craving again!Listed in: My Neck of the Woods
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Review from Caite L.
San Francisco, CA
7/15/2007
I love this place and never have they disappointed me. The service is genuine, attentive, and friendly. The food is better than most available. I love their Veggie Satay; it taste just like real meat!! All their curries are thoroughly delicious. I'd name favorites but I'd be naming almost everything on the menu. This restaurant is an almost unknown gem.
Their menu will please meat eaters and vegetarians alike. There are extensive options for both! -
Review from Carly G.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2011
Yummm. I went here for an early dinner - the place was empty. Ordered the Larb chicken, which was excellent and flavorful with a really nice kick. I also got the pumpkin curry with tofu and vegetables - also very very good! I kinda wish it had more pumpkin flavor beyond the delicious pumpkin pieces inside. Good-sized portions of everything - I had plenty left over for tomorrow. All in all, very good. And the waitress was really nice!
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Review from Rita M.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
Thai cottage is a great place to have a dinner of two or even have a small gathering. The food is one of my favorites. I never realized how much I liked Thai food until I started coming here. The customer service is great and don't have to wait to long for good food. I like many dishes I really recommend to give it a try. It will be good for your taste buds...;)
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Review from Bill H.
6/25/2008
A great stop after a walk along the beach.
I came in here at around 8:30PM with my lady date. We'd planned on visiting the restaurant given its high yelp rating and proximity to the N-Judah stop.
For about 90% of our visit we were the only ones in the restaurant (about 25 seats total). We really enjoyed the seclusion; both of the waitresses present were super-friendly (and looked over every 30 seconds to make sure we were comfortable).
The food was quite tasty, and very well-priced. We started with a dish of shrimp and salad. Thank God for cilantro. The plate was well spiced, and the prawns were cooked just fine, but there's nothing like eating any sort of protein with a bunch of cilantro on it. Nothing.
For entrees, we had a bowl of curry noodle soup and THE MOST DELICIOUS ENTREE OF ALL TIME -- the chef's special stuffed eggplant dish. I don't have a sharp tongue, I tasted chicken and more cilantro in the stuffing of the eggplant; I can only conjecture that the rest of the stuffing was made of my childhood tricycle and Sunday afternoons. The eggplant was cooked to perfection, cooked like porterhouse steak.
Plus, beers for $3.25!
Don't miss this place. Make a weekday beach walking date, and get yourself some chef's special eggplant dish.
Four stars for the great eggplant and service. If I went back and found a few more gems on the menu I'd give it five.Listed in: San Francisco Reviews
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Review from Vicky P.
San Francisco, CA
10/17/2008
Finally, a good thai restaurant that...
-- is nonpretentious
-- is authentic
-- that cooks/presents the food with love(they even carve out little carrot flowers)
-- uses fresh ingredients(no more rancid tofu and sprouts)
-- serves the perfect portions
-- does not serve your rice or noodles too dryyy
-- is nongreasy
-- serves up dishes with a kick of flavorful spice
-- offers some tempting duck dishes(have yet to try, slated for next time)
-- does not fry underripe bananas
-- serves patrons with warm smiles
-- would be a great place to grub after a day at the beach
-- is located right around the corner from my new apt
(of which I have yet to move in, but I thought I'd have a taste of the local scene)
-- is careful in packaging your takeout/leftover food
(I am savoring the idea of eating spicy takeout thai food in front of a fireplace overlooking the ocean on a frigid night..so excited about my new location! ) -
Review from Denise Q.
San Francisco, CA
3/31/2009
Perfect little neighborhood restaurant.
TINY little place with no more than 10 tables, cute atmosphere and ambiance, quick service and friendly staff and yummy flavorful food at not overly expensive prices. Everything we had was really good. My favorite was the fried rice, it had an amazing flavor to it.
Perfect place to come to for dinner if you live in the area. And even if you don't, it may even be worth coming to the area for if you want to risk maybe not getting a table. (it is a really small place)
